Apparatus for serving strips and tape



Oct. 31, 1961 R. 1.. COLLINS APPARATUS FOR SERVING STRIPS AND TAPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. l4,v 1957 Oct. 31, 1961 R. 1.. COLLINS 3,006,567

APPARATUS FOR SERVING STRIPS AND TAPE Original Filed Aug. 14, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l l I l l I 1206122 3 L. CoZZl'Zw,

United States Patent 1 Claim. (Cl. 242-5553) This invention concerns apparatus and devices for adhesively conditioning and serving lengths of flexible strip material, tape, labels and the like for packaging, wrapping, labelling and other purposes.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 678,195, filed August 14, 1957, now Patent No. 2,929,907 granted March 22, 1960. The tape holding, feeding and severing features of the invention as more particularly concerned in this application, while in some aspects peculiarly applicable to tapes which are adhesively conditionable by heat activation, as disclosed in my parent application, are in other aspects useful in tape and strip dispensing apparatus generally.

In the drawing illustrating by way of example one embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation with parts in vertical section, a side cover being removed;

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary top plan view corresponding to the lower right portion of FIG. 2 and extended further toward the rear of the machine of FIG. 1 than in FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a top plan of a forward portion of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the delivery portion of the machine with cover parts removed or broken away;

FIG. 4 is a partial vertical sectional view corresponding to the upper left portion of FIG. 1, illustrating the cut-off action;

FIG. 5 is a partial transverse section as on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing the tape roll support; and

FIG. 6 is a cross section of the feed guide and heater element.

The device or apparatus of the invention in the illustrated example comprises a supporting base 10 under a housing frame including front and rear walls 11, 12, a bottom wall 13, a top wall 14 and a fixed side wall 15, said base having a horizontal area greater than that of the frame bottom wall 13, FIGS. 1 and 2, and arranged relative thereto to present longitudinally along the frame bottom a laterally projecting flange 10a. These frame walls 11-15- are integrally or otherwise formed of rigid sheet material to define within them a main compartment 16. The compartment front wall 11 is spaced below the top wall 14 to provide an exit mouth 17 for the tape T, such mouth constituting a portion of the tape delivery and cut-01f station.

At one side, herein that at the right as a user faces the front or delivery end of the machine, the main compartment 16 of the housing frame is closed in use, subject to easy opening for access, by a =bodi1y removable side wall or cover 18, FIGS. 2 and 3, removed in FIG. 1 to show the interior of compartment 16. This openable and removable side wall 18 comprises a plate of conformant size and shape set onto said laterally projecting portion or flange 10a of the base 10 and readily removably held in compartment-closing position against the adjacent side edges of said fixed compartment walls 1114 by permanent magnetic latches 19, 19. Two of these are shown mounted centrally on the housing bottom and top walls 13 and 14, FIG. 1. At least those areas of this side cover plate 18 opposite the latches 19 present magnetically attractive metal. I

- 3,006,567 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 In the lower forward portion the compartment 16 is adapted to support rotatively a supply roll R, illustrated by way of example as of the heat-sensitizable tape T, shown woundwith the heat-activatable face a of the tape inmost and the base or non-activatable face b at the outside. The tape roll R is arranged for draft upon it by a user grasping the leading end of the tape T at the delivcry and cut-off station adjacent the exit mouth 17 where it is presented conveniently for seizure as between the thumb and forefinger, asindicated in FIG. 1.

The roll supporting means desirably provides adjusttable frictional braking tension upon the roll R for avoidance of back lash. Such means, noting FIG. 5, herein comprises a non-round spindle 20 shown as a hexagonal member onto which the core of the tape roll R is easily slipped into alignment with the center line of the guide and heater element 30 to be described. The peripheral corners of the hexagonal spindle 20 hold the roll R sufliciently for transmission of tension to the tape. The spindle 20 is rotatably disposed on a stud 21 fixed on the compartment side wall 15 as by an anchor screw 21a. A concentric friction Washer 22 of leather, cork or other friction-surface material is interposed between the fixed frame wall 15 and the adjacent end of the stud 21 and held fast by it against said wall. At the other end the stud 21 carries a thrust-bearing Washer 23 held against rotation by a key lug 24 thereon received in a keyway on the stud. Outwardly of the bearing washer 23 are one or more highly resilient washer-like members 25, 25 preferably of a sponge-like rubberous material such as foam rubber followed by another rigid retainer washer 26, these latter centrally apertured for passage of an adjusting cap screw 27 tapped into the end of the stud 21 and having a knurled head 28 for manipulation.

By rotatively adjusting the cap screw 27, 28 greater or less pressure is exerted against the friction washer 22 at the other end of the spindle 20. The described resilient mass 25, 25 between the two metal members 23 and 26 maintains an even tension at all times and in cooperation with the parts mentioned has been found more effective than such expedients as coil springs, a minimal rotative adjustment of the cap screw 27, 28 affording the desired range in tension. By reason of the key lug 24 and keyway therefor on the stud 21 the inner rigid bearing member 23 is prevented from transmitting torque to the adjusting screw under the turning action of the tape roll R.-

. Certain heat-sensitizable tapes, particularly those of the Perry Patent 2,462,029 mentioned in my parent application, can be activated under relatively high heat in a short time interval approaching the instantaneous. But under such relatively high heat conditions it is found that the tape if allowed to remain subject to the heater will suffer a loss of :the adhesive into the paper or other base materialof the tape. Hence, while it is important that the heat-sensitizable coating or face a of the tape T be completely activated for good adhesive performance, it is also important that excessive temperatures be avoided. A further consideration is that the adhesively heat-activated substance of the tape T has in general more adhesive strength atmoderate temperatures in the range of 220 to 240 F. than at substantially higher temperatures. At the same time it is desirable that the heat-activated face of the tape have minimum contact withany part of the apparatus.

, With these'considerations in view the invention pro extended service path permits the use of a correspondingly elongate heater means. This in turn enables a relatively prolonged heating period commensurate with the extended travel path for the tape, and also makes available a lower activating temperature range such as that-of 220 to 240 F; mentioned,'by reason of the prolonged heat-receiving advance of the tape along the heater. Under'such temperatures the tape, being guided and supported at its base or non-adhesive face b, can remain on hr subject to the heater for substantial periods of time and still "be instantly usable. It will be understood that if a machine is to be out of use for'periods upwards of an hour or ,more the recommended procedure is to switch it off.

Accordingly, the apparatus of the invention provides in the relatively compact compartments 16 for conduct of the tape T rearwardly from the top of the roll R (wound with activatable face in) and downward into guided relation with. a combined guide and heater element designated as a whole at 30. 'Along the latter the tape is conducted in a somewhat circuitous and elongate path first rearwardly, then upwardly and thence forwardly over substantially the entire length of the compartment 16 to the delivery station at the mouth 17. a i In. the illustrated example the guide and heater element' 30 is of an elongate general J-form with the long leg leading to the delivery station at the mouth 17. It is a flat tubular or channel-like structure with one smooth elongate outer face, the convex face at the turn of the ,1, providing a recei ngysupporting and guiding surface for the base or non-activatable face b of the tap T. It may be integrally or otherwise constructed as a removable unit. In the illustrated example, noting FIGS. 3 and 6, it comprises outer and inner elongate strips or plates 31, 32 fashioned to flat tubular form. The outer plate 31 for direct contact with the base face b of the tape is of a good heat conductive material such as aluminum. Within this elongate channel guide structure 31, 32 are installed, for use with heat-sensitizable tape, one or more electrical resistance heater elements such as indicated at 33, FIG. 6, these being embedded in suitable electricallyinsulating heat-transmitting material. Such electrical heater means extends throughout a major portion of the guide-heater unit 30, preferably substantially from end to end thereof. This unit as a whole is demountably positioned in the compartment 16 as by brackets 34 secured to the housing wall 15. Ventilation for the compartment is provided asat apertures 16a on the walls thereof.

Electrical energy for the heater is supplied through a plural-conductor appliance cord 35 with plug-in provision. The cord is admitted to the compartment 16 through the rear wall 12 at which is also installed an on-oif master switch 36. Leads from the cord extend to the rear and the front ends of the heater element as indicated at 37, 38, the latter through an adjustable thermostatic switch designated generally at 40, FIG. 1, having a temperature setting knob 41. Such temperature control 40 is conveniently hung on the under wall 32 of the guide-heater 30 for removal as a selficontained unit with it. It is desirably located near the front end of the heater so as to respond to heater temperature adjacent the delivery station 17.

. The guide-heater 30 and the electrical heater element 33 thereof are thermally constructed and arranged to supply to the tape, when plugged into the usual 110-115 volt'A.C. circuit or other power supply, the maximum operating temperature desired for the apparatus. A heater element with 100 watt rating has been found satisfactory. The thermostatic regulator 40 is of a type suited for the particular circuit and adapted to control the heater for maintaining temperature within a relatively moderate and adjustable operating range such as the mentioned 220 to 240 F., as by breaking and remaking the heater circuit from time to time as appropriate to the selected operating temperature range. The thermostatic device 40 is readily adjustable as appropriate to variable temperature conditions at places of use, and to the character of tape or of surface to which it is to be adhesively sealed.

Provision desirably is made for holding down the tape into heat-activating relation with the guide-heater 30, especially adjacent the delivery station 17. In the illustrated example this is accomplished through eans imposing a minimum of drag against draft of the tape while insuring against undue retraction or back lash of the tape and keeping it heat-subjectively against or adjacent the heater-guide 30.

As shown such means comprises a floating hold-down unit designated generally at 50, noting particularly FIGS. 1 and 3. It comprises a transverse series of parallel forwardly and downwardly inclined needle-like members or fine-pointed pins 51, resembling phonograph needles. They are"sufiicient in number and overall extent across the path of the tape to accommodate tapes of the maximum width to be handled. The pins 51 are held at the non-pointed ends in a cross-bar 52 fixed as by screws 53 on the legs of a yoke '55- secured as by a screw 56 at the front end of a longitudinal arm 57. Such arm 57 in turn is pivotally hung at its rear end as at 58 on a bracket 59 extending from the housing side-wall 15.

- Thus the hold-down unit 50 as a whole is adapted to float or rest by gravity upon the upper and adhesively .activatable face a of the tape T. It has a weight selected as appropriate to accomplish the desired holddown and guiding action yet making contact with the adhesive tape face only at the inclined points of those pins 51 within the width of the given tape. The inclination of the pins, forwardly and down toward the tape is at'an acute angle to the plane of the tape path. This angle may be adjusted by loosening the screws 53,

' turning the bar 52 about its axis and resetting it to affordthe desired pin angle. In operation of the machine there is a minimum of contact of any part with the activated adhesive during service of the tape. Further, by reason of the configuration and angular position of the restricted-contact pointed members 51, the floating holddown unit 50 is substantially self-cleaning.

The heat-activatable tape dispenser of the invention further comprises means for severing the advanced length of adhesively conditioned tape, and for positioning the lead end of the remaining-tape for convenient grasping in service of a succeeding length. In the apparatus as a whole the tape roll supporting means along with the means for guiding the tape advance and for adhesively heat-activating and delivering the tape as advanced by the user are novelly correlated with such severing and lead-endpresenting mechanism, now to be described. These several elements of the unitary machine are mutually interdependent structurally and functionally, each eoacting with the others in novelly effecting the serving of any desired length of the tape heat-activated to adhesiveness, with convenience and safety to the user and with successive lengths available for feed, conditioning,

cut-off and delivery at any desired time.

For convenience in servicing and simplicity in manufacture and assembly the guarded cut-off element and the lead-end presenting means, which latter functions also as a lock and release for the cutter guard and deliveryplatform, are constructed and arranged as a unitary subassembly at the front of the machine. Noting FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, such sub-unit comprises a case or housing element defining a relatively small compartment 60 of major vertical extentat the front wall 11 of the tape storing and conditioning compartment 16 and in longitudinal line with the tape path, with its upper portion adjacently below the tapernouth or delivery station 17. Said front compartment 60 includes an upright rear wall 61 between opposite sidewalls 62, 63, the latter shown as ofldecreasing width toward the main base 10 ofthe machine on which they are supported. The rear wall 61 is removab ly secured flatwise against the front wall 11 ofthe main compartmentas by bolts, one of which is indicated at 64, FIG. 1. The auxiliary compartment 60 thus defined desirably is closed by a removable front cover 65 also of U-shape in horizontal section conformant to and receivable against the compartment side wall 62, 63 and removably held as by screws 66.

Because the strips and tapes to be handled may vary widely as to toughness and resistance to severance, from relatively light-weight paper-base sheets to strong reinforced tapes including fabric and other bases with fibres and strand reinforcement, it is desirable that the cut-off means be adapted for severing coaction with any of such tapes. It is found that a pointed or spear-like blade ofiers maximum efficiency and versatility in this regard.

Accordingly in the illustrated example there is provided an upwardly directed triangular blade 70 with sharp piercing point 71 and down-flaring sharpened cutting edges 72, 72. It is fixedly mounted on and between the sidewalls 62, 63 of the front compartment 60. To minimize accumulation of adhesive on the cutter blade it is found desirable to provide a heated status. for the blade during operating periods. For this purpose there is mounted directly on and along the base of the blade 70 a small electrical resistance heater element 75 connected with leads 76 from the power supply cord 35, preferably releasably as by pinch-clip connectors 77 facilitating disconnection for demounting the cutter compartment 60. The knife 70 and its heater 75 are mounted as by embedding in a block 78 of heat and electrical insulating material such as that known commercially as Maronite supplied by Johns-Manville Co. The insulating block 78 in turn is held in a troughed bracket 79 having lateral portions secured as by screw bolts 79a on the side walls 62, 63. Upon manipulation of the bolts the generally vertical plane of the blade may be angularly adjusted relative to the service path of the tape. The knife heater 75 is selected as appropriate to maintain an even temperature on the blade 70, desirably at a level of approximately 300 F., without the necessity for thermostatic control.

By reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, it is evident that severance of a delivered length of tape is effected by deflecting the tape, herein downwardly, into cutting engagement with the blade 70, see particularly FIG. 4. In association with the cutter or blade 70 there desirably is provided means for guarding against careless contact by a users hand. This is herein accomplished by a combined displaceable guard and delivery platform indicated generally at 80, constructed and arranged normally to shield the knife 70 and to be locked in the guarding position against unintentional exposure of the knife, yet to be released and automatically moved to blade-exposing position by direct coaction of the tape itself therewith in accomplishing the final draft and severance of a desired length of the adhesively conditioned tape.

Such tape-guiding guard 80 is illustrated as a generally rectangular top plate or platform 81 with downturned front lip 82. Behind the latter is a transverse slot 83 permitting the masking platform 81 along with the tape T thereon to be depressed and brought into tape-severing coaction with the blade 70 under the relative vertical movement of the tape and the blade as the latter is operatively exposed through the slot 83; see FIG. 4. This tape-guiding guard element 80 has the general form of a bell crank, with 2. depending rear leg 85 disposed at an angle of something less than 90 to the platform member 81 and rigidly connected with the latter as by side pieces 86 turned down from the latter. It is mounted for pivotal swinging movement about a horizontal axis provided by a pin 87 removably supported in opposed apertures in the knife compartment side walls 62, 63 where it is held against unintentional axial withdrawal by the installed cover 65. Normally this guard 80 is held in the up or shielding position of FIG. 1 as by a spring 88 connected at one end to a lower portion of 6 the central leg 85'and at the other or forward end to, a fixed part such as the knife bracket 79. Inturned lugs 89 at the top edges of the side walls 62, 63 serve as limit stops determining the normal up and substantially horizontal position of the combined guide platform and knife-shielding element 80.

To avoid unintentional depression of said element a positive latch or lock is provided as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. For this purpose one or more latch members 90 are pivoted as at 91 on the knife compartment rear wall 61 or a bracket thereon having lock shoulders 93 adapted in an upper position of the latches to stand behind the lower edge portion of the platform leg positively locking it forward and the platform up in the up or shielding position of FIGS. 1 and 3.

For automatically unlocking the knife-masking platform element 80 by deflection or pull down on the tape T, means controllable by the tape itself is provided. Such means as shown is depressible by and with the tape to release the latches and on opposite return after the tape is cut has the dual function of elevating the lead end of the remaining tape length at the delivery station and presenting it for convenient grasping. For this purpose there is horizontally pivoted atand between the front ends of the latches 90 as at 94 a finger 95 brazed or otherwise fixedly connected to a release or trip extending upward through a transverse opening 101 at .the rear portion of the platform 81. This trip and hfter member 100 extends transversely below the tape path and has an overturned or rounded upper end for engagement with the non-adhesive underface b of the tape T. It is of a length to extend up through the platform 81 into the desired tape-elevating position, as rep resented in FIG. 1, which position it normally occupies between tape-serving operations, being yieldably elevated as by a sprrng 103. The latter is anchored at its upper end to a fixed part such as the platform pivot pin 87 descr1bed, and at its lower end is attached to the trip 100 as at the finger 95 thereof, whereby the latches 90 are normally held in locking position with the latch shoulders 93 blocking rearward movement of the platform leg 85.

user desiring to obtain a length of adhesively condrtroned tape grasps the conveniently presented lead end at the access area above the guarding platform element 80 and in front of the delivery mouth 17. This is most convemently done by placing the index finger on the top face of the tape and the thumb on the underside, With the result that the drafted and cut-01f tape length is held by the operator in readiness for applying adhesively to any desired surface with a minimum of turning or awkward movement of the hand or wrist. Having drawn oif the desired length of tape, in a forward direction generally parallel with itself and in substantial prolongation of the tape path along the guide and heater 30, the user merely pulls down on the tape so that it first exerts down pressure on the trip 100 to depress the latches 90 releasing the platform-guard element 80 for downward and rearward swinging. Further down swinging of the tape depresses the platform-guard and brings the tape into cutting relation with the pointed fixed cutter blade 70 as the platform moves below it. On completion of tape severance the lead end of the remaining tape is left free, automatically releasing the trip 100 for spring return to the tape-elevating and latch-locking position of l, the platform-guard element 80 simultaneously being returned by its spring 88 to its normal locked FIG. 1 position.

It is noted that the described provisions for holding, guiding, feeding, severing and delivering the strip or tape while of special advantage with respect to heat-sensitizable tape and strip materials are capable of use for the like handling of other types of normally non-tacky strips and tapes.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiments "thereof illustrated anddescribed herein, and I set forth its scope in my following claim. I'claim: V i i p p Dispensing apparatus for tape, comprising a frame adapted to mount a tape supply roll, roll mounting and controlling means on the frame, and a housing compartment for the roll mounting and controlling means and defined by said frame, said compartment including enclosant bottom, top, opposite end and vertical longitudinal side walls and presenting a tape delivery station, a supporting base for said frame having a longitudinally extending flange laterally projecting beyond the adjacent edges of the compartment bottom, top, and end walls, one of the compartment longitudinal'side walls being bodily separable and adapted to be removably set on such base flange and being shaped and dimensioned to abut laterally the side edges of the top and end walls when it is so set on the'base flange, and magnetic catch means for retaining such removable longitudinal side wall in installed position subject to instant bodily removal by lateral separation from said abutment with said top and end walls and in any order of separation with respect to said walls individually, said catch means comprising top and bottom permanent magnetic members secured to longitudinal medial portions of the base and top walls adjacent the bodily separable wall location and said separable wall presenting magnetically attractive metal at least at those areas opposite said magnetic members, said 8 retaining means providing capacity for outward swinging of said removable side wall about the lower edge thereof resting on the base flange as a pivot support, whereby the compartment may be momentarily partly opened at the top-for inspection of the tape roll supply and immediately be pivotally closed While retaining the wall as a whole in supported position on the bottom wall, and at other times may be wholly opened for access to said tape roll supply and by complete bodily separation of said removable side wall from the remainder of the frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,090,388 Foote Mar. 17, 1914 1,621,666 Guenther Mar. 22, 1927 1,967,362 Johnson July 24, 1934 2,149,869 Ringel Mar. 7, 1939 2,192,265 Kallander Mar. 5, 1 940 2,247,750 Dohnal -1 July 1, 1 941 2,508,305 Teetor May 16, 1950 2,594,391 Cardall Apt-.29, 1952 2,663,369 Erhardt Dec. 22, 1953 2,805,113 Brown Sept. 3, 1957 2,929,907 Collins Mar. 22, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 481,889 Canada Mar. 25, 1952 

